Robust vs Oneway or other live center

[Richard Dooling]

I'm thinking of buying a Robust or Oneway live center.
Although I'm leaning towards the Robust, I would like to see what preferences people have. I'm particularly interested in having the threaded end for accessories.

Thanks - Richard

[Edward Weber]

I "believe", Oneway was the original of this type of live center. I've had mine for years without complaint. I wouldn't have a problem buying either one, they're pretty much the same.

[Robert Hayward]

I have the Oneway multi tip 4 piece live center set. Excellent piece. Like Ed says though, you cannot go wrong with either one.

[Grant Wilkinson]

I'll third the vote for the Oneway. I have a tap to cut threads in small blocks of wood that I can thread onto the live centre. The make it easy to hold things firmly onto my vacuum chuck without marring the piece.

[Kevin Jenness]

The Robust center has an adjustable length point that can reversed to show a blunt end and the large cone may be a little larger than the Oneway (4" vs ?). It costs about 30% more. The Oneway works great and I'm sure the Robust is equally well made. I don't know if I would see any extra value in the Robust unit.

[Bill Howatt]

I have used my Oneway for years with no problems. I also have the Oneway adapter that screws onto the live center's thread and allows me to put my 1-1/4" threaded chucks on it for centering bowls on the vacuum chuck. Like, Grant, I also have a tap for making any special items to screw onto the center.

[Jeffrey J Smith]

I’ve got both - bought the Oneway to use on a Jet 1642 many years ago, received the Robust when I upgraded to an AB 12 years ago. Both continue to do their jobs extremely well, but I do use the Robust more than the older Oneway. I like the Robust’s reversible/adjustable center and find it useful. They both take the same cones and I’ve turned and tapped several wood adapters to use when finishing bottoms with the vac chuck. For most purposes they are interchangeable, but the barrel of the Robust rotates where the Oneway is static. The robust is also slightly cut away on the front face and may allow slightly more clearance for that center cut, but its not a game-changer for me.

[Richard Coers]

Another vote for the Oneway, it's been spinning since 1998 for me. Plus as mentioned, all the others are variations on the original.

[Jason Edwards]

Another vote for the Oneway, it's been spinning since 1998 for me. Plus as mentioned, all the others are variations on the original.

I would respectfully disagree with this statement. The Oneway live center was copied by Powermatic and Jet - there was even a lawsuit involved, which Oneway won. The Robust live center shares a threaded end (3/4-10), like other manufacturer's do as well. But, the oneway body is static, and the tip revolves. The Robust body revolves, along with the tip, making it in essence a small cone on the end. The tip is also extendable and reversible. It has a larger radial thrust bearing as well. For those of you that think Oneway invented live centers, they've been used in metal working for probably 150+ years. Not trying to diss Oneway. It's a good center. But claiming the Robust is a copy is false.

[Bill Howatt]

Never used the Robust but I always liked the Oneway barrel being stationary and just the center bits rotating - one less thing to burnish my fingers :).

[Edward Weber]

I would respectfully disagree with this statement. The Oneway live center was copied by Powermatic and Jet - there was even a lawsuit involved, which Oneway won. The Robust live center shares a threaded end (3/4-10), like other manufacturer's do as well. But, the oneway body is static, and the tip revolves. The Robust body revolves, along with the tip, making it in essence a small cone on the end. The tip is also extendable and reversible. It has a larger radial thrust bearing as well. For those of you that think Oneway invented live centers, they've been used in metal working for probably 150+ years. Not trying to diss Oneway. It's a good center. But claiming the Robust is a copy is false.

take it easy
Yes, there are differences between the designs, it's up to you which suits you best.
The point, for the OP, is that they are both quality tools, that at the end of the day, do the same job.
The Oneway has the advantage of being around longer, the Robust has arguably better bearings.

To say that it's not a "copy" is being pretty generous. Same threads, similar accessory cones offered.
514352514353 my jet copy 514356

While I don't think anyone claimed Oneway "invented" the live center, theirs has been the standard in woodworking for quite some time. The Robust is just an evolution, which is to be expected.

[Richard Dooling]

A big Thank You to all the responses. This has given me some things to think about. For one thing, I didn't know that the Oneway barrel is stationary. I have the Nova and have occasionally scored the barrel on that. I do like the reversible center point and beefy bearings on the Robust.
It is a nice problem to have two high quality choices though.

[Richard Coers]

I would respectfully disagree with this statement. The Oneway live center was copied by Powermatic and Jet - there was even a lawsuit involved, which Oneway won. The Robust live center shares a threaded end (3/4-10), like other manufacturer's do as well. But, the oneway body is static, and the tip revolves. The Robust body revolves, along with the tip, making it in essence a small cone on the end. The tip is also extendable and reversible. It has a larger radial thrust bearing as well. For those of you that think Oneway invented live centers, they've been used in metal working for probably 150+ years. Not trying to diss Oneway. It's a good center. But claiming the Robust is a copy is false.
I did say they are all variations on the original, that means they aren't the same. But go ahead and disagree if it makes you feel better!

[Thomas Wilson80]

I don’t want to hijack this thread or the original question, but I use the Nova live center and am curious how much better the Oneway/Robust are in comparison (always looking for the next “needed” tool…..)?
Tom

[Bill Howatt]

If your workpiece isn't wobbling or flying off the lathe, you probably don't need to do anything :).
The only argument that I've seen has applied to bearings and for me that so far has been a non-issue. I think the accessories you get with whichever one might influence a decision.

[tom lucas]

I don’t want to hijack this thread or the original question, but I use the Nova live center and am curious how much better the Oneway/Robust are in comparison (always looking for the next “needed” tool…..)?
Tom

I have both the Nova and a Oneway. I use both all the time. Each has advantages over the other. The Nova has a lot of versatility. One is the use of the Nova scroll chuck adapter that is live when inserted in the Nova chuck. This lets you spin the scroll chuck to help seat reversing into a vacuum or jamb chuck. You can put that adapter directly in the tailstock, but it won't be truly live. However, there are some nifty 3rd party attachments for the Oneway, like the Rubber Chucky tips, that do not work with the Nova.

[John Kananis]

Those look like (the one on the right specifically) the live center on my laguna. I guess everyone has copied them to some extent.

[Edward Weber]

I have both the Nova and a Oneway. I use both all the time. Each has advantages over the other. The Nova has a lot of versatility. One is the use of the Nova scroll chuck adapter that is live when inserted in the Nova chuck. This lets you spin the scroll chuck to help seat reversing into a vacuum or jamb chuck. You can put that adapter directly in the tailstock, but it won't be truly live. However, there are some nifty 3rd party attachments for the Oneway, like the Rubber Chucky tips, that do not work with the Nova.
Oneway has always offered a chuck adapter.
514384 this is from 2012

[tom lucas]

Oneway has always offered a chuck adapter.
514384 this is from 2012

Good to know.

[Richard Dooling]

I like the Nova live center but I would like the versatility that Robust/Oneway threaded ends provide. I am specifically looking at some of the Rubber Chucky products but I also can see how easy it would be to make custom attachments. You can do something similar with the Nova but it's not as straightforward.

As a side note, I bought the Rubber Chucky Vacuudapter and this is a great company to do business with!

[Richard Dooling]

Thanks again for all the great feedback! I just ordered the Oneway from Lee Valley for $120 USD. I'm not turning such large pieces that the beefier (I think) bearings on the Robust persuaded me to spend the extra cash. Currently free shipping - just sales tax added.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/power-tool-accessories/chucks/20245-live-centers?item=66B0812

[roger wiegand]

Ability to swap center points, eg for Cindy Drozda's micro point is invaluable. If you can do that on a oneway it's not a discriminator, but I wouldn't buy a revolving center with a center point I couldn't move or swap out for a different one. I retract it fully when recentering bowls and it makes life much easier to not have the point digging in.

[Grant Wilkinson]

I can swap out the points on my Oneway. I have a set of 5 different "points" some of which aren't points at all, but are rounded or blunt.

[Kevin Jenness]

I can swap out the points on my Oneway. I have a set of 5 different "points" some of which aren't points at all, but are rounded or blunt.

Grant, did you buy or make those substitute points?

[Bill Howatt]

I have the regular and pen-turning points for my Oneway center. And, of course, you can knock it out and go without any.
Don't know what Grant was referring to but here is a link to Cindy's points for the Oneway:
http://www.cindydrozda.com/html/CenterPoints.html

[Richard Dooling]

Grant, thanks! I am planning on making some points and maybe buying some. I inherited a small Unimat metal lathe that should help.

Bill, thanks for the link. I'm going to try making a reverse cone center point but if that doesn't work out I may buy Cindy's version.

[Grant Wilkinson]

I made them years ago. I have a Taig micro metal lathe so after a few failures, it didn't prove to be all that difficult. As with the stock one, they simply tap out with a thin knock out bar.